University of Warsaw

University of Warsaw, established in 1816, is Poland's largest and finest university and a leading research centre, offering numerous programs of studies and specializations within the fields of Arts and Humanities, Social, Physical, Life Sciences as well as Engineering and Technology. The University employs over 7'200 people, including over 3'500 academic staff and it educates over 42'000 undergraduate and graduate students, 2'900 Ph.D. students and almost 2'700 non-degree post-diploma students, not counting the UW Open University students of all ages, including children. 

The high level of scientific research, as well as its connection with diversity and attractiveness of teaching methods determine the indisputable first position of the University in the country and its good reputation worldwide recognized also by prestigious international rankings. Currently, there are 21 faculties and almost 30 other academic and research units, including the Centre of New Technologies and University Technology Transfer Centre. The University of Warsaw cooperates actively with over 1000 foreign and national institutions and collaborates with 531 partners from 73 countries within direct cooperation agreements. The level of internationalization makes the University of Warsaw one of the leading academic institutions in Central-Eastern Europe.

University of Warsaw belongs to the global community of universities and accepts its universal aims, but its name is strongly bound up with the capital of Poland. Thus, the University plays a special role, combining universal techniques of communication and knowledge of universal significance with maintenance of respect for the historical and cultural identity of the region and state. In response to the challenges arising from the transformation of the country, the new position of Poland in Europe and the world and the education of knowledge-based society, University of Warsaw defines its mission as follows:

1. The basis of the University’s activity is the unity of teaching and research – the university brings together scholars from a variety of disciplines, being a place of diversity of scientific research and inter-generational multifaceted knowledge transfer.

2. The mission of the University within society is to guarantee access to knowledge and acquisition of skill to all who are entitled – the University of Warsaw generates knowledge and teaches skills that ensure high professional qualification and proper fulfilment of public roles of its alumni, combined with the development of their personalities.

3. The civic mission of the University is the formation of those elites who, in their activities, will serve the imperio rationis rather than the ratione imperii – the University is a community of dialogue, exchange of views, clash of arguments and openness to new ideas and concepts always bound up with respect for diversity and personal dignity, regardless of political, ideological and religious differences.

4. The cultural mission of the University is a synthesis of universal and local values. The University cultivates in harmony and symbiosis many different disciplines, combining advanced techniques with research on cultures and identities. The University of Warsaw mission was approved by its Senate and binds all members of its academic community.